INQUEST AT ASBURTON

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1264, 6 April 1878, Page 3

INQUEST AT ASBURTON

An inquest on the remains of the child who was burned in the whare, near Ashburton, on Thursday afternoon, was held at the Somerset hotel on Friday, before J. E. Trevor, Esq., coroner, and a jury, of whom M.r M. Smith was chosen foreman. The jury having viewed the body, which was only a few ashes in a box, the following evidence was given. Elizabeth Osborn, wife of Joseph Osborn, residing or. Mr Winter's station, said : —I was going to bake some bread yesterday afternoon dire.otly after dinner. The oven was built outside the at the back. When I found the shed near the o»*n P.n fire, I tore down some boards, and threw water on it, I ran for assistance, and asked the first m&n J paw to try to get out the child. When I got back the house was in flames. It was not more than five minutes till the man came. He went to look for the child, but could not get further than the door on account of the flames. My husband apd several other men came, but they could not get in. I have no idea how the house caught fire. The door of the oven was defective, the wind was very high. There was nothing saved from the whare. When I left to run for the men I thought I could get help in time to save the child. The child was sixteen months old.

Joseph Osborne, husband of the last witness, deposed :—-I was absent at the time the fire took plaos, I was about eight minutes' walk distant from fch« whare. I saw my wife at a gate about half way between the house and where I was working. She wis jLng / I went with the other men to her assistance. " Make haste, the child is in the hou'sp) .and jtjhe house is on fire." When we got to the' house, ( the iiames were breaking out through the weatherboards. was a fire in the oven jn the morning."'The wind was from the nor'.weofc, bjowjng against the oven, which was built against tiip outside of the house. I attribute the fire to fche strong wind. My wife and the two children were alonrf) £h the house. After the fire, I carried water to fchjow *on the embers, and searched for the body of the phild. I found it where the bedroom stood. It was dreadfully burned. I only knew ifc was fche Jjy finding ifc in the position I did. I placed it in a box. There was nothing saved from the faofige. The other child was outside at tha time. j£ consider the fire was caused by embers bemg'Mown out of the oven fire by the strong wind. Thjs concluded the evidence. Th.; returned a.yerdict of " Accidental .burning."